Year End Reflections & Looking Forward in 2024

What a year it has been for me. With 2024 here, it is always good to reflect on all that was accomplished, big wins, and yes, even the failures and losses.

I had high hopes for 2023, as I was feeling more comfortable in my current role professionally, we were coming out of the toddler phase with my youngest, and I was eager to begin focusing on how I could devote more time to self-care in the coming months. I felt pretty strong and confident as I rounded out the first 3 months of the year and then...

... My dad's health continued to decline with his long cancer battle, and my mom was diagnosed with her own battle in March. It took me down a path of anger, depression, guilt, and reflection I have never known. It also rocked my faith. I couldn't understand why God would potentially take BOTH parents away from me. I wasn't ready to deal with all the emotions. All the questions. All the information.

Piecing It All Together

It definitely wasn't mainstream back in my 20's when I had severe digestive issues with dairy. It would take numerous visits to dermatologists, dieticians, and nutritionists to conclude I was highly sensitive to it. And even then, I was simply told, eliminate it from your diet. I trialed and errored different lifestyle diets most of 20's and by 30, I rarely ate dairy. It was just too much to try and find supplemental foods, especially those that didn't taste awful. It simply became my life...dairy free.

Fast forward to mid 30's and even though I felt pretty good, I had debilitating menstrual cycles. The migraines, the cramping, the vomiting on occasion, and even the sick calls from work--were all too common. I knew something was not right with my body, but I couldn't figure out what it was trying to tell me. Finally, after years of just dealing with the pain, I found an endocrinologist who could help me. Turns out I had a 5 lb. fibroid sitting on the outside of my uterus. Additionally, there were 2 more golf ball sized ones inside, which were causing the monthly hemorrhaging. I had a Subserosal fibroid. I still cannot believe it was that big! My doctor said it probably was there 15 years! Check out this awesome article on fibroids and how to prevent and relieve.

Fibroids: 8 Ways to Manage or Prevent Uterine Fibroids - Dr. Axe (draxe.com)

After the fibroids, I was relieved from all the pain. However, I was not completely in the clear because I had just upset the hormone apple cart so to speak. My body was resetting from the trauma of major surgery (I had a myomectomy to remove the fibroids), and it was not happy. The OB suggested birth control to regulate my cycles, but I didn't want to do that. I went back into my food and research mode. I became voracious. Diets, supplements, foods. You name it, I read about it and probably tried it. I was tired all the time, lethargic after meals, and simply didn't feel right.

It was not until I looked back to my 20's and I remembered my nutritionist mentioning to me the blood type diet. She had said to me, "You can eliminate dairy all together and follow the diet specifically for your blood type. Or you can take Lactaid an hour before you know you will be consuming it." I chose the latter back in my 20's. But as I inched forward to 40's, I thought there might be something to this. For nearly 10 years now, both my husband and I eat for our blood types.

Essentially the diet was created by Peter J. D'Adamo, who claims that the food we eat reacts chemically with our blood type. If you follow a diet designed for your blood type, your body will digest food more efficiently, and you’ll lose weight, have more energy, and help prevent disease. Read more about your Blood Type here The Blood Type Diets: Blood Type and Your Health (dadamo.com)

Finding Purpose in My Pain

If you have followed me for a while or even know me personally, shortly after my fibroid journey, I got pregnant and over the course of 3 years suffered 4 miscarriages. It was another very painful and emotionally draining period of my life that ultimately led be back to food and nutrition once again. I often joke about it now with clients that I felt like I stepped back into 10th grade Biology class with all the talk and research we learned about hormones, cycles, and conception.

While it was extremely difficult both physically and emotionally, I somehow enjoyed the challenge of "figuring" out my body, and how it would respond to different conventional and holistic medicines. Between acupuncture, fertility treatments, yoga, and lifestyle diets to name a few--I was convinced I would be successful if I kept letting my body guide the way. And that is exactly what happened. Once I integrated what I needed, and I believed it would come to fruition, by the grace of God, it did. We were blessed after one round of IVF with our beautiful daughter.

Listen to Your Inner Voice

Do you ever feel like your pain has a purpose? Like it's bigger than what it actually is and that God or the universe is trying to smack you over the head? I had a nagging for about 5 years and chose to ignore it. But once my parents got sick, it grew louder. So much so that I couldn't ignore it. It kept telling me, "Share your story. It will resonate and help others. Food is fuel. Health is something you're so passionate it about. Shout it from the roof tops!" And 2023 was the year I decided to listen.

To make a long story short, food and nutrition--or should I say the idea around WHAT you eat directly impacts your health; has become more mainstream. And what I mean by that is people are actually becoming more interested in listening to the studies and research around it. Additionally, people are even discovering and learning on their own. How to eat, live, and enjoy life--rather than just surviving it. And because of that, and my journey with food I took a leap of faith and made the decision to become an integrative health coach.

Helping people has always been something I loved, but helping people be happy and healthy? Now that is something I can be passionate about! New ideas, new learning, new clients, and new health!

Out of the Darkness and Into the Light

While 2023 was filled with darkness and uncertainty, it was also filled with discovery and light. There have been many times in my life I have experienced pain, and I truly believe that it is in those moments I was discovering a greater purpose. We have officially begun 2024 and I'm so excited about what it will bring. A year does in fact change you, A LOT!

I challenge you this year, to listen to your inner voice, try something you never thought you would, or something you've always wanted to. And take time to be present. Moments are fleeting, and we can never get them back. And finally, I hope this year brings you discovery, reflection, happiness, and of course--the best health!

xoxo Heather